Gate-latch.



H. R. ELLIOTT.

GATE LATCH. APPLICATION rILEb NOV. 30, 1909.

Pa tented June 14,1910.

(MW 3 GRAHAM co PNOTO-LIYNOGRAPHERS, wAsnmc'IoN. n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIQE.

HOWARD R. ELLIOTT, OF BILLINGS, MONTANA.

GATE-LATCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD It. ELLIOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Billings, in the State of Montana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Grate-Latches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improved latch for use in connection with a swinging gate to fasten the gate in closed position and enable the gate to be opened from either side, the invention consisting in the construction, combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure l is a perspective view of a gate latch constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same in which the free end of the gate and the post against which the gate closes are also indicated. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the same.

The post against which the gate closes is indicated at l and the free end or side of the gate is indicated at 2. In the embodiment of the invention here shown a bracket plate 3 is provided which comprises an arm or web 4- to bear against the vertical inner side of and be secured to the post 1 and the horizontal arm or web 5 at the upper side of said vertical web 1. The said horizontal web 5 is provided at its outer corners with rectangular recesses 6. On the upper side of the horizontal web of the plate is an inverted U-shaped support 7, the inner vertical arm 8 of which has a screw-threaded stem 9 at its lower end that engages an opening in the web 5 and is provided with a nut 10 bearing under said web, the outer vertical arm 11 of said support having a longer stem 12 at its lower end which passes through an opening in said web 5, has a nut 18 bearing under said web and also provides a pivot for a catch 14:, said catch being here shown as a plate which is provided on its ends at its outer side with shoulders 15 to engage opposite sides of the free end of the gate, a notch 16 for the reception of the free end of the gate being formed between the said shoulders and the opposing inner edges of said shoulders being oppositely inclined as at 17 to enable either shoulder of the said catch, when the latter is turned as in dicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 to clear the gate and permit the latter to swing. It will be observed that the pivot 12 of the catch Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 30, 1909.

Patented June 14:, 1910.

Serial No. 530,620.

is at the center of the latter and that the catch is pivotally mounted on the web 5. A keeper 18 is also provided which is here shown as a bar provided with downturned arms 19 at its ends. The central portion of the keeper is disposed between the vertical portions of the support 7 and is mounted for angular movement in a vertical plane on a pivot pin 20. The arms 19 of the keeper are cleared by the notches 6 so that the keeper is adapted for rocking movement in a vertical plane, at right angles to the plane of movement of the catch 15 and, hence, when the latter is at right angles to the gate, so that its shoulders 15 bear on opposite sides of the gate, the keeper 18 is in a horizontal position with its arms 19 en- 'aging opposite end portions of the catch and thereby locking the latter against pivotal movement, it being necessary to tilt or incline the keeper 18 appropriately to enable the catch 14 to swing as may be required to enable the catch to clear the gate and permit the latter to be swung in either direction. A spring 20 is here shown which is connected to the keeper and to the plate web 5 and serves to normally dispose the keeper in initial horizontal position with its arms 19 engaged with the ends of the catch.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, is

1. A gate latch comprising a pivotally mounted catch having shoulders at its ends to engage opposite sides of the free end of the gate, and a pivotally mounted keeper movable in a plane at an angle to that of the catch and having means to engage the respective ends thereof.

2. A gate latch comprising a pivotally mounted catch having shoulders at its ends to engage opposite sides of the free end of the gate, a pivotally mounted keeper movable in a plane at an angle to that of the catch and having means to engage the respective ends thereof, and means to normally maintain said keeper in engagement with the ends of the catch.

3. The combination of a base element for attachment to a gate post, a catch mounted on said base element for angular movement in a horizontal plane, and having shoulders at its ends to engage opposite sides of the free end of a gate, a support on the said base, and a keeper pivotally mounted on said support for angular movement in 'a horizontal plane, and having shoulders at its ends to engage opposite sides of the free end of i normally maintain such keeper in such posi- 1b a gate, a support on the said base, and a tion.

keeper pivotally mounted on said support for angular movement in a vertical plane intersecting the plane of movement of the catch, said keeper having means to engage the ends of the catch When the keeper is 1n horizontal position and lock the catch against pivotal movement, and means to In testimony whereof I affix my signature 1n presence of two wltnesses.

HOWARD R. ELLIOTT.

W'itnesses J. M. V. CQOHRAN, L. E. TORRENOE. 

